Unusual Rigging breaks ground on planet-friendly HQ
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The innovative project is set to see the company pave the way as pioneers - showing what can be done towards regenerative design within the built environment whilst also sharing the obstacles they face with the wider industry.
The organisation, known for its work on events like the Olympics, the World Cup and West End and touring theatre hit shows, says it is taking ‘a huge leap forward’ in their commitment to the circular economy.
The design for the new HQ and research building, on the company’s current site in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, takes all the economic principles of the circular economy and applies them to the new building.
Tom Harper, managing director at Unusual Rigging explains: “It’s all about designing out waste, designing for disassembly, running on renewables, sequestering carbon etc. We’ve been applying these principles to our work in the industry for a while now.
“We were selected as a finalist in the prestigious World Economic Forum ‘Circulars’ award scheme for our innovations towards a circular economic business model. Now we’re taking it that one step further and we’re excited to be leading the way. We are very much ahead of any legislation in our aspirations to achieve this.”
In the new building, Unusual, along with architects Corstophine & Wright, are: choosing carbon sequestering materials over carbon intensive ones (accoya wood over standard cladding. Glulam timber over steel); delivering on an internal design, based on principles of reuse - opting for biodegradable materials over carbon intensive (breathaboard over plasterboard), and addressing heating and lighting requirements with passive house capacity in mind.
Constructing the building to be easily disassembled at end of life, means all the materials could be reused again. Other benefits include: planning to regenerate the landscape, adding ponds and specific landscaping for a bent towards rewilding; ensuring that the building will be run on 100% onsite renewable energy (solar), a further twelve electric vehicle charging points.
Jonathan Plant, director at Corstophine & Wright says: “It is rare and refreshing to have a client like Unusual. In his role to drive forward the development of their new headquarters, Tom has had the confidence and tenacity to follow his aspirations for a building routed in the principles of the circular economy. Going well beyond what most owners or developers might consider sustainable, we as architects, needed to innovate in the way we design and the materials we use.
“We have and are facing constant obstacles to overcome with the design of the building, whether that’s with materials that are still being tested before coming to market or with stakeholders who don’t share the same commitment. Tom is without doubt, an inspirational client to work with.”
